Monday, January 21, 2008

I try to avoid the "I'm tired, so can't post write now" posts. So, instead, there is this silent void.

The lack of energy doesn't always occur in a vacuum, even when I'm sick with a cold (like now).

Sometimes, I've had a really good day, but I "used up" my energy. So there is no energy left for sitting down and composing.

Over the past few weeks, I have been fighting a cold. (not so successfully)

It feels like I'm always sick these days. It takes me almost a month to get rid of the common cold. And by the time I'm healthy, another cold seems to be right around the corner.

It's frustrating.

But I am still dilligent about attending simchas. This past month has been super busy. There was the wedding of Moshe's cousin (which I hope to post about), and Moshe's sister's son's Bar Mitzvah (did you follow that?), and the Bat Mitzvah of E (Y's & S's daughter). And we have at least three more smachot in the coming week (a wedding and two more Bat Mitzvahs).

Thank God, there are a lot of good things going on.

This past week, I really did not feel so good. Besides the sleepiness that was weighing me down, I felt like I was in a fog. I couldn't think clearly and I barely had enough energy to get out of bed. For the first time I can remember, I taught one of my beginners classes from outside of the water. (they are advanced beginners, so they were fine, but it was not the way I usually teach) I just couldn't get in the water -- I was afraid of getting chilled.

Today, thank God, the fog finally lifted. I feel much better, even though my nose is running, I can't stop sneezing, I have pain in my ears from the pressure from my sinuses, and I have pain in my chest from pneumonitis (inflamation of the large airways) -- I never even heard of that last one before!

I finally succumbed, and went (again) to the doctor.

It was totally "gam zu l'tova" (all for the best). My doctor was a tzadik, and squeezed me in. Then, in addition to diagnosing me, he agreed to listen to my daughter's lungs. It turns out that I wasn't being paranoid about her cough -- she has a-typical pneumonia. She was home sick all last week (with a virus, but no pneumonia). Over Shabbat she seemed much better and today she went to school. But, still, now she has pneumonia.

The moral of the story: always trust your instincts!

Anyway, I got permission from my doctor to attend tomorrow's retreat for cancer patients, sponsored by Beit Natan. Beit Natan is another support network, for religious women with cancer. A friend of mine told me about the retreat and convinced me to try it. It's three days (Mon, Tues & Wed) -- away from everything.

I'll be back in time to attend my friends' wedding on Wednesday night!

You asked....

Israel Time

Me & My Blog

I love my loyal readers! So for you, and you know who you are, I try to post at least 2-3 times a week.

This blog is OPEN -- so share it with anyone you think might be interested.

I want to hear what you have to say, so COMMENT FREELY!

For newcomers who know, or don't know, me:

I am a Red-Head (to know one, is to love one), Zionist (last of a dying breed), Idealist (can't help it, I still want to change the world), Enthusiastic People Person (love to meet you!), Mom (my kids are EVERYTHING to me), Wife (married to my best friend), and Cancer Survivor (read on!).

Cancer History in 3 sentences or less:

Diagnosed with DCIS (stage ZERO breast cancer) at age 39 (June 2005). Three surgeries and 2 years later (July 2007)... I became a statistical anomaly: breast cancer mysteriously metastasized to my bones, liver and lungs. 2 years later (July 2009), we discovered metastases in my brain.